Recycle your Pacemakers!

There is a great disparity between the high and low income counties in terms of pacemaker and defibrillator availability. Each year 1-2 million individuals worldwide die due to a lack of access to pacemakers and defibrillators. Meanwhile, almost 90% of individuals with pacemakers would donate their device to others in need if given the chance. The University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center has been conducting a series of research projects aiming to establish pacemaker and defibrillator reuse as feasible, safe, and ethical means of delivering this life saving therapy to patients with no resources. Throughout this process we have been engaged with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in order to obtain approval and begin a clinical trial.

We must never forget that at the foundation of each technological breakthrough is the need to improve humanity in all aspects of our society. Undoubtedly, pacemaker reuse can safely and effectively transform a currently wasted resource into an opportunity for a new life for many citizens in our world!

If you are interested in being a part of this program, please download the legal consent for device explantation and donation. Follow this link to request a postage-paid shipping box or envelope in order to send the device to the University of Michigan free of charge. Thank you for your compassion.

This program has been approved by the Michigan Funeral Directors Association (Michigan Funeral Directors) and the University of Michigan Medical School Institutional Review Board. We work with the funeral and crematory industry as well as individuals who wish to donate their devices.